Unlike his teammates, Salamone is assured of waiting at least about 90 minutes before finding out whether he will get to play. The better the Wreckers do, the longer Salamone waits.

Salamone is Staples' closer, a highly paid specialty at the professional level, but a boutique role at the scholastic level. Most of the best pitchers start as often as possible.

Salamone only pitches when the Wreckers have a slim lead to protect. Sometimes he will sit by himself at the end of the dugout.

Waiting.

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"I'm used to it," Salamone, a junior, said. "I'm really comfortable with the position."

Salamone has flourished in the part, which is one reason the Wreckers, despite a number of starters lost to graduation, are well-situated to win their fourth FCIAC title in five years.

Salamone entered Friday's game at Westhill with two on and one out in the sixth inning. The Wreckers were trying to protect a four-run lead against an opponent that kept battling back from deficits to stay within striking distance.

Fourteen pitches later -- 12 of them strikes -- Salamone had his fifth save of the season and the Wreckers an 11-7 victory.

Salamone, who also has a win to his credit, has not allowed an earned run in 16 innings.

"He doesn't start because we have a pretty deep pitching staff," Staples coach Jack McFarland said. "In high school, the last nine outs are the hardest. Right now it's a luxury for us and he's really grown into it. He's as cool as a cucumber. You are going to have to beat him. He's not going to beat himself."

Salamone got a little help in the sixth. Second baseman Ben Greenberg made a leaping catch to rob the Vikings' Chris Soule of a base hit for the final out, then retired the side in order in the seventh.

"It's really tough coming in in tough situations," Salamone said. "You have a hungry team over there. You have to be smart, hit your spots and no walks. It is OK if they make contact because I have confidence in the defense."

After falling behind 1-0 in the first on Brandon Curto's leadoff home run, Staples (12-2, 10-2 FCIAC) erupted for five runs in the second against Westhill starter Ryan Duggan (1-4). James Frusciante, Frank Vartuli and Greenberg had doubles -- Greenberg's drove in two runs -- and Nick Kiedaisch hit a two-run homer, one of four in the game.

"The bats finally woke up," said McFarland, whose team was coming off a 1-0 loss to Wilton the previous day. "Westhill is a good team, they have a pride and they always play well at home."

Frusciante had three of Staples' 11 hits -- eight were for extra bases -- including a pair of doubles. Kiedaisch added two and Eli Andrew drove in two runs. Zach Levins homered.

The Vikings (5-8, 4-8) were strong offensively, with 12 hits against three Staples pitchers, knocking out starter Matt Reynolds in the fourth inning. Brian Pollack had three hits and scored two runs, while Andrew Oakes -- who homered -- and Tim Longo had two hits apiece. Billy Druehl had a bases-loaded triple during a four-run fourth inning that helped Westhill rally from an 8-1 deficit.

But Westhill left eight runners on base and the pitchers issued seven walks, which led to four runs.

"The bats were there, but the pitching, you can't defend a walk," Westhill coach DJ Mulvany said. "It is tough because we were able to score some runs. We came up short a couple of innings. We left a lot out there."

The Vikings are in the midst of their most difficult stretch of the season, and they have been in nearly every game. The difference between victory and defeat has been thin, often the lack of execution on one or two opportunities.

"Our kids have a lot of heart and they battle back to a point," Mulvany said. "The pattern is we score runs and then give some back. It's something we have to overcome."

Meanwhile, the Wreckers know it just takes a one- or two-run lead to get to their closer. McFarland said it is possible Salamone might become a starter in the postseason, when the turnaround time between games can be much shorter.

It is a decision that McFarland, appropriately enough, said will wait.